Safety-stirrup.



PATENI'ED MAB). 22, 1904.

E. L. PARRISH. SAFETY STIRRUP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

llllllllllllllllllllll ll/ y i \\\\\\\\\\v 1.//41 2a www@ wx'. Novum: nuns co. PNoToLmm.. wAsmNoww. u. c.

Patented March 22, 1904.

.aTnNT risica.

EZEKIEL L. PARRISH, OF CROCKETT, TEXAS.

SAFETY-STIRRUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,531, dated March 22, 1904.

Application led May 13, 1903.

To LZZ whom. it 11i/ay concern:

Be it known that I, EZEKIEL L. PARRISH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crockett, in the county of Houston and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety-Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stirrups, more particularly tosafety-stirrups; and the primary object thereof is to provide a new and useful device of this character adapted .to release the riders foot should he accidentally fall from a horse.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and novel means for retaining the movable member of the stirrup in its closed or open position.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the nature, novelties, and advantages thereof are more fully understoodfrom the following description and accompanying drawings.

The invention consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a stirrup constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, part of the stirrup being in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the lines 3 3, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by reference-numerals, l designates the stationary, and 2 the movable, member of the stirrup, the same being approximately L-shaped and substantially duplicates. The member 1 is adapted to remain in its normal suspended position and has fulcrumed thereon to swinglaterally the member 2. The horizontally-disposed arm 3 of this member is bifurcated and reduced to provide a shoulder 2a. Situated within the slot of said bifurcation is a leaf-spring 4, which may be formed integral with the member l or made separately and secured in applied position by means of bolts or other fastening means 5. To form the spring integrally, the arm 3 is slitted longitudinally on either side of its longitudinal center from the extremity of said arm to a point at or near the arm l.

Serial No. 156,962. (No model.)

This spring is tapered toward its free end to give to it suiiicient resiliency to permit of the free operation of the member 2 and retain it in its closed or open position against casual movement. The vertical arm of the member l has formed integral therewith a laterally-projecting block 6,provided with a sl ot, through which passes the stirrup-strap to suspend the stirrup in applied position. The block (i has projecting from the outer face thereof pins 6, the purpose of which will be hereinafter pointed out.

The member 2 has the horizontally-disposed arm 7 thereof provided for a portion of its length with a depending flange 8, which is adapted to fit in the slot of said bifurcation and is tapered toward its inner end to correspond to the taper of the spring 4. This member is fulcrumed upon the member l by means of a pivot-pin 9, passing through the arm 3 at a point near its outer end, and the flange 8. The arm 7 when the member 2 is in its closed position lies upon the arm 3, placing the inner end thereof in contact with the shoulder 2, this being permitted by the tapering of the spring and iiange, thereby providing a footpiece with an unobstructed bearing-surface. The upper end of the vertical arm of the member 2 is provided with perforations adapted to receive the pins 6iL when the member is in closed position. The iiange 8 is arranged upon the arm 7 in a manner to provide the member 2 with a right-angular heel 10, whereby the heel is provided with faces ll and l2. The spring 4 is adapted to contact with the face ll when the member 2 is in closed position to normally retain the same in such position, and said spring is adapted to contact with the face l2 when the member is opened to retainit in such position against casual movement.

The operation of my improved safety-stirrup may be explained as follows: The riders foot will retain the member 2 in its closed position when a downward pressure is brought to bear upon the arm 7, as when the rider is seated in the saddle; but when a pressure is exerted upon the vertical arm of the member 2 said member is caused to swing laterally from the horse, as when the rider is in the act of falling, to release the riders foot, thereby obviating all liability of accidents resulting from a riders foot being caught in the stirrup When thrown from'a horse.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is- 1. In a stirrup, the combination of a stationary member provided with an arm slitted longitudinally on either side of its center to provide a spring, said arm having a portion thereof reduced, a movable member having an arm adapted to rest upon said reduced portion to provide a foot piece with an unobstructed bearingsurface, and means to fulcrum the movable member upon the stationary member.

2. In a stirrup, the combination of a stationary member provided With an arm slitted 1ongitudinally on either side of its center to provide a spring, said arm having a portion thereof reduced, a movable member having an arm adapted to rest upon said reduced portion to provide a foot piece With an unobstructed bearing-surface, a flange secured to the arm of the movable member and extending throughout its entire length, said iange being adapted to engage the spring, and means to fulcrum the I movable member upon the stationary member.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EZEKIEL L. PARRISH. Witnesses:

T. J. WALLS, B. H. 'Woo'rLERs 

